Railroad-crossing signal



Nov. 18, 1930. PAYNE RAILROAD CROSING SIGNAL Filed April 9', 1930 Green HHHHHH NW1 uuuuuu'uu' 9 Fr'anklayrze INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1930 t FRANK ISAYNE, or BILTMORE, mourn CAROLINA RAILROAD-CROSSING SIGNAL Application filed April 9, 1930, Serial 1101442573, 7

This invention relatesto a railroad cross mg s gnal, the general object of the invention being to provide a system of lights for inch-- eating when the crossing may be made in safety and when a train is approaching the crossing, with means for controlling the circuits of the lamps of the system by a train approaching the crossing, so that the system isan automatic one.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the engine crew can see whether or not the system is in operation.

" This invention also consists in certain other 8 features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying draw- 1ng whereln like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the lamp.

Figure 3 is another view of the lamp, but looking toward that side which carries the single window. 8

In this drawing,the letter A indicates'the track and the letter B- the crossing. A part of the track is insulated from the rest of the p condu'ctonl l so that'current wlllfiow from "thesour-ce of supply through the conductors track, as shown at 1, the insulated part extending over the crossing, and this insulated portion is connected by a conductor 2 with a I v v red d'an'ger signals will bevislble to persource of supply, which maybe a line 3 connected to a source of supply,or a battery. A p

lamp 4 is placed over the crossing or'at a point where it can be readily seen by one intending to pass over the crossing and this lamp has two windows 5 in each face thereof which are parallel to the track so that these Windows are,

visible to persons about to pass over the crossing. A horizontal partition 6 divides the I A lamp casing into two chambers,one of which has the upper windows in its walls and the other of which has the lower windows in its Walls. The upper windows each has a green lens therein and the lower ones are provided 0 with red lenses. A lamp bulb 7is located in theicon ductors 12withthe line 3 and with a terminal; '13, the companion terminal 14- being connected by a conductor 15 with the line 13". A switch1l6 is adaptedto bridge the terlninalsfand this-switch is connected to an 75 armature'li of a-magnet 18 which is'located in 3 the circuit of the lamps 8. A spring 19 normally-ho1ds'the switchin engagement with thet'erminals.

n Thus it will be seen-that when a train passes so 7 on tothe'insulated part'of the track, it will ltheiupperchainber -anda lamp bulb8 is loa I catedin the lower chamber. A window 9, 1 containing a clear lens isiformedrin each of the sides of the lamp casing facing the track. These windows 9 are locatedat thecenter of thecasmg and the. partition is so formed that someiof the rays of lightfrom both lamp bulbs can passjthrough these windows.

' Figure lshows'thesystemas composed of two lampcasings,one'arranged at each side. so of the track, bu'tit will be understood that but a'single lamp casing'may be used tocontrol the, crossing,but the single lamp must be so placed that it can be seen by persons about to pass over the crossing from either side of the was track. I

he'lamp bulbs. 8 are connected by the con- Lductors lO with the line 3" and by a conductor11 with that part of the track which is not insulated. The lamp bulbs 7 are connected by electrically connect-the conductor 2 with the and a part of the train tothe lamps 8 so that sons approaching the crossing and'at the same time, the magnet 18 will be energized to open the switclr andfthus'break the circuits to the lamps? whichigivelthe green signals. 'Thus i oo persons approaching the crossing will know that a train is approaching the crossingand that they must not pass. i After thetrain passes thecrossing, the wheels of the train, leaving theinsulated section of the track, will, we

break the circuit of the lamps 8 and of the magnet and the spring 19 will move the switch to closing position so that the lamps w ll be lighted." Then the green signals are vlslble to persons approaching the crossing and such-goo persons will know that they can safely pass over the crossing. As long as any of the lamps are lighted, the windows 9 will be illuminated so that the engine crew will know the system is in working order when they see the white light from these windows. I I

Thus I have provided a simple form of signal system for controlling a railroad crossing and one in which the parts are automatically 10 controlled by the trains.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes :liall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A railroad crossing signal system comprising a lamp casing having a pair of chambers therein, Windows in the walls of each chamber visible to persons approaching the crossing, a red lens in each of the windows of one chamber, a green lens in each of the windows of the other chamber, a lamp in each chamber, circuits for the lamps, means whereby the circuit of the lamp in the chamber having the red lenses in its windows is closed by a train approaching the crossing and the circuit of the other lamp is opened and means for closing the last mentioned circuit andopening the other circuit when the train passes the crossing.

2. A railroad crossing signal system comprising a lamp casing having a pair of cham-' hers therein, windows in the walls of each chamber visible to persons approaching the crossing, a red lens in each of the windows of one chamber, a green lens in each of the windows of the other chamber, a lamp in each chamber, circuits for the lamps, means whereby the circuit of the lamp in the chamber having the redlenses in its windows is closed by a train approaching the crossing and'the circuit of the other lamp is opened, means for closing the last mentioned circuit and opening the other circuit when the train passes the' 50 crossing and a window in the casing visible to the crew of a train approaching thecrossing and illuminated by the lamps in either chamber. v

Intestimony whereof I aliix my signature.

FRANK'PAYNE. 

